The assessment program provides a deep understanding of the discrete elements of the building condition. It has reduced program risk by enabling the project team to gain critical information that is guiding both design and construction strategies. I won't take you through the plethora of information around this program, but maybe I can take you through the key takeaways or highlights that we've gleaned from executing this program. There are both positives and negatives.
On the positive side, we now have a very comprehensive understanding of every heritage element in the building, which will help us develop a robust heritage restoration strategy. We have determined that the underlying structural steel is in better condition than expected in many areas, which will create efficiencies during the structural reinforcement process. We know where all the underground infrastructure is, and the associated site conditions. We have cleared the site for digging from an archeology perspective. We know the type and location of designated substances so that we can develop a comprehensive abatement strategy. All are positive things, because they are things we can address through the course of the design and construction program.
The one negative aspect of the program, and it's not an insignificant technical challenge, is that we were hoping to find room above the ceiling and behind the walls to run such modern services as heating, IT and electrical. Quite honestly, there is very little space to run these services in the ceilings and behind those walls. Although this is a significant technical challenge, we will take innovative approaches to implementing this type of infrastructure into the building. We are already working on this. For example, with the support of the House of Commons and in close collaboration with ITPMO and our designer, the team has shifted away from a traditional horizontal infrastructure solution to a vertical one that will ultimately save space in the building.
In previous slides, we have outlined some of the technical challenges to modernizing the Centre Block. The team will continue to focus on resolving those technical constraints in a manner that will balance restoration and modernization in a way that prioritizes core parliamentary functions such as parliamentary offices and committee rooms. But the building modernization is only one aspect of the Centre Block rehabilitation. As previously indicated, we have also been working with the administrations of the parliamentary partners on their parliamentary functional programs. As previously also stated, we are now at the point in the planning where parliamentary input and direction is required to complete schematic design for both the Centre Block and the next phase of the visitor welcome centre.
Key decisions surrounding the Centre Block include the design approach for the size and configuration of the House of Commons chamber, including public galleries and lobbies, as well as the space and location of parliamentary offices and committee rooms.
From a visitor welcome perspective, the design approach for the size and operational functionality of the next phase of the visitor welcome centre and as well the location and configuration of entry points for business and public access to that visitor welcome centre, which will ultimately lead to an integrated parliamentary complex, must be taken.
At this point I'm going to pass the presentation over to my colleague Susan Kulba, from the House of Commons, to take you through the chamber.